Ahmedabad: Much has been said about the pitch of Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad where hearts of a billion fan broke as Australia defeated India by 6 wickets in the finals of ICC World Cup 2023. The final game was played on the used pitch of Ahmedabad and behaved contrary to India’s expectations. Amid the criticism around choosing a used pitch for the final match, the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed its rating for the Ahmedabad pitch.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has recently released its ratings for the pitches used during the 2023 Cricket World Cup, and the Ahmedabad pitch has received an “average” rating. This assessment has sparked debates and discussions about the fairness and consistency of pitch preparation at the highest level.
The ICC match referee, Andy Pycroft, was responsible for rating the Ahmedabad pitch. Despite the average rating, Pycroft did acknowledge the “very good” quality of the outfield. This discrepancy highlights the complexity of evaluating pitches, as different aspects contribute to the overall playing experience.
While the ICC’s rating implies a neutral ground, some, including India’s coach Rahul Dravid, have expressed concerns about the Ahmedabad pitch. Dravid reportedly blamed the pitch’s slow and sluggish nature for India’s performance in the World Cup final against Australia.
However, others argue that the average rating is fair and that both teams had to adapt to the conditions. They point to Australia’s successful chase in the final as evidence that the pitch wasn’t unfairly biased towards any team.
The ICC’s pitch rating system is based on several factors, including bounce, turn, seam movement, and the behavior of the ball on different areas of the pitch. The system aims to ensure that pitches are fair and consistent across all international matches.
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